roll away your stone-- open; pups!

[Paint]

Stars hide your fires
For these here are my desires
And I won't give them up to you this time around
And so I'll be found
With my stake stuck in the ground
Marking the territory of this newly impassioned soul

Miraculously, Rose was in her den when she gave birth. She was a wanderer up until the very last days, when finally she realised that she was a ticking time bomb. Best to set it off in exactly the right place. As her body began to rumble, she let out an urgent howl, hoping that those she loved would make an appearance. Although she'd given birth before, it was still an exhausting process, and she'd need support.

After a couple of hours, she laid back, having guided her three little newborns to where they would naturally look for food. As she felt the familiar tugging, she relaxed. Part of her thought back to Bion and her lost pups, and she shed a small tear, but it was one of happiness too. And she wiped it against her leg, closing her eyes as she heard someone approaching. Her eyes opened sleepily as her father stood in the entrance.

"I won't come in and disturb you. I just wanted to check that you're okay," he spoke gruffly, in a matter-of-fact way. Rose could see straight through his emotionless exterior though, understanding the relief and pride that he must be feeling for her right now. She felt those things too, smiling at him.

"How are my new siblings?" she asked, and Duke moved slowly into the den to sniff at his grandpups, get acquainted with their scents.

"They're fine. Myu was strong throughout, just like you," he answered conversationally, and a small smile appeared on his face as one of the newborns yawned widely. Then he bumped his nose into Rose's cheek softly, the most affectionate gesture he had shown her in a long time, and turned to leave the den to give her some peace. She felt her heart go out a little bit to him.

"Dad?"

He turned and looked back. Their identical dark brown eyes met with the greatest of understanding, and he bowed his head slightly before speaking.

"I'll be right outside."

The words were simple, but they had the desired effect. She laid back again, relaxing, feeling safe, and smiling all the while as he left and laid down outside.

[[Midnight]]

What would you say was true euphoria? Justyn knew what it was, what it felt like. He felt it as far as his toes when he had heard Rose's urgent howl, summoning those in the pack who meant something to her to be there with her. Justyn had stopped what he was doing and stared off into space, in a dream state.
Was it really time?
Was it really happening?
Was Life giving Justyn another few reasons to live?

He figured he'd better wait around a while before tracking her down in her den. Duke and Raiden were probably there guarding her, and would tear him apart, most likely. And Justyn wanted - even if it was just one glimpse - to see these pups that meant resolution for Rose. He'd give the real family time to see them, and Justyn would try to sneak his way there.

To buy some time, Justyn went hunting. Really, it was just for small game - to give something to Rose when he arrived. As he chased hares and hogs and other prey around, there was enthusiasm in his paws and a carefree smile on his muzzle. He hunted half-heartedly for a little while before losing his patience for waiting, and snatched up a small rabbit, not much for a wolf's appetite, but something to give strength to a mother who has just given birth.

He angled his ears in the direction that the howl had come from. Raiden may still be there - what would happen? Justyn still had a scar of his face from that nasty bite, and wasn't keen on seeing that brute's smug expression. But if Raiden really loved Rose, surely he couldn't keep Justyn away forever, nor could he refuse this rabbit for her. When he eventually arrived within range to scout the area, he immediately scented Duke and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Which was worse? Dealing with Duke, or with Raiden? What a pain.

Trying to hide his excitement, Justyn emerged from his coverage and slowly, respectfully, inched his way towards the entrance of the den. He looked at Duke's face; there was no hatred, or irritation, or anything negative to suggest that Justyn was not happy to see him. Instead, the young male dropped his little hare, and made a curious face - a bit of a mixure of worry and excitement.

"How is she? How are they?" he asked, dropping to his belly and shuffling his front paws with impatience. His eyes peered into the darkness of the den's entrance, but could see nothing. Even with his ears angled sharply he couldn't pick up on more than a bit of scratching noises.

[Paint]

Duke was rather surprised to see Justyn turn up, to say the least. He and Rose didn't actually delve too deeply into each other's affairs, unless asked to, and he mostly trusted his daughter's decisions. Justyn seemed a little funny with Duke recently, but clearly right now he was here for Rose. There was a friendship that he hadn't expected. His face remained rather expressionless, cogs in his head turning slowly to assess whether or not to rely or just send Justyn in.

During this silence, Rose tensed up slightly, leaning forwards with her ears tall. She listened carefully, having just about heard what Justyn had said. She knew her father didn't know about their friendship, what they had been through, but she hoped that he wouldn't find this a betrayal. She refused to have to tell anyone every single last detail of her life, as privacy was quite a precious thing to her. Especially amongst the dramatics of this pack. But she didn't want to call out, she wanted them to handle it like adults themselves.

Duke's pause lasted only a little while, but he wasn't bothered. He didn't see it as a weakness to keep Justn waiting, but neither was he trying to play a game. Rose was safe, he was content with that, and that she had asked him to stay and keep guard.
"She's well. Two healthy pups," he replied evenly. "I wasn't aware that you and Rose were close, but if that hare is for her, I'm sure she would appreciate you taking it to her."

Rose breathed a sigh of relief, and her heart pumped proudly at the way her father handled that situation. He seemed to be calming slightly, in general, although that slightly worried her. Was he getting old? She shook her head, mentally placing that thought further back in her head. That would wait. Now, she awaited Justyn entering the den, with a soft smile.

[[Midnight]]

Justyn couldn't help but smile at Duke's peaceful invitation. He wished he hadn't, since it made him seem too involved, and he didn't want Duke to know much about his admiration for Rose. Oh well, Justyn wasn't interested in hiding who he was, and he would deal with any possible consequences later. He padded away from Duke, inching toward the mouth of the dark mountain den, his heart thumping madly. He wondered if Rose would be welcoming, or if the precious birth of these new things would be too much for her to share. If so, he knew he'd be hurt to be chased away, but he'd understand. He'd heard rumrs that mothers were crazy protective anyway.

He let his eyes adjust to the darkness before actually entering. And when he did, he took it slow and cleared his throat, to let her know she had company.

It was when he was able to see her face that he dropped the hare at his face rather clumsily. She looked rather serene - and happy. It warmed his heart to see her bright eyes.

He sat back on his haunches and then let himself peer down at the two pups lying close to her. They looked very much like her already, and Raiden. He marveled at how tiny they were, helpless and squirming and already full of personality.

He smiled small.

"Good job," he murmured quietly, almost a whisper. He wasn't sure what else to say, it was a rather awkward moment for him, one that he couldn't explain. So he nudged the dead rabbit close to her paws and looked back at her face.

[Paint]

Duke was perplexed by Justyn's calm smile, his almost appreciative entrance into the cave. When the younger wolf was gone, Duke rolled his shoulders to rid them of any tension, staring out across the lands with an emotionless expression. Rose's ability to calm strong males would always astound him.

Rose's smile grew a little wider as Justyn entered. She felt a pang of hunger as he dropped the rabbit by her, and pushed it closer. Her tail wagged, a slightly childish response from the Ice Queen, but her appreciation was clear.

"Thank you, I'm starving," she laughed lightly. She tucked in, ears flicking as she felt the two pups nuzzle in at her stomach. It always amazed her, how much of their actions were innate. They did not need to be taught how to eat, or see, or walk... they just learned them, naturally. It was fascinating.

Rose finished the rabbit, licking her now bloody black lips. She was very content, having her father guarding her outside and Justyn here to keep her company. The only wolf missing was Raiden, but she wasn't going to let that irritation show and upset Justyn. She smiled again, instead.

"They're beautiful, aren't they?" she looked at Justyn as she said it. "A boy and a girl. A lovely balanced litter."

She stretched out and sighed. She was exhausted, but too excited to sleep just yet.

"How are you, Justyn?" she asked, genuinely tuned in to him. Her expression became cooler, calmer, less pup-like- she seemed to be returning to normal after the adrenalin rush. Or perhaps it was the food filling her belly again. "You seemed to be quite distant with me lately. I wasn't sure if you would come to see them."

[[Midnight]]

He felt all the tension leftover in his muscles begin to fade as Rose spoke - just the same old Rose, but with a gleam of happiness in her eyes. As she tore into the hare he let his eyes wander back to the newborns. What would their names be? Would he be teaching them how to hunt someday? Maybe they would look up to him, want to be like him for his Beta-ship. Or perhaps they'd be a typical Moon like their grandfather, hating everyone but their family...

But he didn't really think so, not with Rose mothering them.

His mind briefly flickered to that of his family in Dancing Stars. How could they hate him so much for wanting to stay here? If they could see through his eyes, they'd understand. Maybe, if Justyn were to become Alpha and declare peace with the Stars, they'd finally forgive him.

Rose's words brought him back and his eyes shifted to hers. So, a male and a female. Yes, that was nice.

"Yeah, they are something else," he responded, with a slight tail wag. Though his eyes gave away his fascination, he tried not to lose his dignified composure.

Again she spoke, and this time Justyn's ears had perked. He felt a strange stabbing at his heart, and a feeling of guilt. Was Rose losing her trust in him? Had he let her down by giving her space? He doubted that this was the time in her life that she needed him most - but maybe he had been completely wrong. He grinned.

"Are you kidding me? I've been waiting for this day for weeks," he responded, glancing momentarily down at her pups. "But I'm trying to avoid Raiden. I didn't want to make things more complicated than need be."

He shifted his weight further onto his back, almost lying down but keeping his head erect. His eyes grew a bit softer. He was aready glad he had come here.

"You know me, just wandering around making more enemies. Pissing off my family and going a little crazy. Obsessing over your freedom. Oh, and I have a denmate," he ended with, watching Rose's face intently for her reaction. "Fallon and I get along well enough."

[Paint]

Rose felt her heart swell a little with pride as she watched Justyn with the pups. She'd been right to let him into her life- with the way he was looking at her offspring, she was sure he would protect them with his life. She looked to the strong males in her life to be physically strong, as although she could hold her own in a fight, she was much better suited to emotional combat. If she could use her brain, she felt sure to win, but muscle was something she lacked. It put her at ease to think of Duke and Justyn being so nearby.

Rose listened to Justyn, glancing at the pups as she did so. Having had their feed, they settled down, so soft and new, into a deep slumber. Rose felt her body ache from the strain of the birth, but it was slowly returning to being all hers again. There were no words to describe the miracle of having pups. Her ears flicked upon the mention of her mate's name.

"I don't think you have anything to worry about," she replied coolly. Without even thinking, she reverted back to her icy composure, her inner actress. She stared Justyn dead in the eye as if daring him to call her out on it. "I haven't seen Raiden about for a while now. I'm not sure where he's gotten to."

The reason she'd gone icy was simple; she hadn't decided yet what she thought or how she felt about his temporary disappearance. Rose would not be at the mercy of anyone's sympathy, especially her close friends, if Raiden had left. The thought would tear her apart, but she refused to acknowledge it just yet. She would not have anyone tell her how she should be feeling, not now and not ever. But the icy demeanour sank away again at Justyn's next words. She became friendly again, involved, motherly even towards him.

"Justyn," she lamented, one brow raising. "I thought you'd outgrown this hotheadedness. Sooner or later you're going to have to sit down with your family and make amends. I'm not sure who you'd choose if it came to a battlefield situation."

Rose didn't finish what she was really thinking. Of course you would choose us, me, the Moons. But would it be the correct decision? Her face remained sturdy, not giving away anything. She decided that she would address the denmate situation in a moment.

"Before we chat about Fallon, tell me what's happened with your family."

[[Midnight]]

Actually, to hear from Rose that Raiden may well be missing came as a shock to Justyn, naturally so. He was almost about to utter a bitter response to this news when he realized that Rose was quickly dropping the subject. He shut his muzzle tight and watched her face for a moment, looking for any traces of agonizing loneliness or heartbreak; but as usual, Rose was as fickle as ever and didn't want to give anything away. He suspected there was more to this story, but he respected Rose enough to let it go.

A battlefield situation. Justyn thought about it probably every day in passing. He knew he wouldn't stoop down to the level of Caerwyn and kill family members. Then he would be just like his father. But his true loyalties now lay here, with these three wolves in front of him. And perhaps now with Fallon.

Again he smiled, scraping a claw near the carcass that was freshly ripped open.

"I'll never outgrow anything; they should learn to accept me for who I am. That's what I really want," he admitted stubbornly, blinking as he remembered his own actions very recently. He wasn't surprised when he felt his own embarassment, realizing Rose wanted to hear about his puppish antics.

"Sure, I had a bit of a mental meltdown, but I never expected to be dealing with my sister. She showed up out of nowhere and got offended when I asked about my family history. She's trying again to act like she knows me." His eyes grew serious as he straightened up. "I didn't choose to be found by Duke. I did choose to follow him, because I knew that following him would mean survival. I tried to relay that in my own special words."

[Paint]

Rose raised a snowy brow at Justyn. She knew that sometimes it was inevitable, not getting along with your family. But Justyn, and his sister, they'd both been through so much. Like so many wolves in the valley, plus more with the drama of their father. You'd think they'd have more in common, Rose thought drily.

She sighed, shaking her head slightly. She trained her eyes on him. Part of her loved and part of her hated the way he relayed information to her, especially when it came to something she was sure he must feel a little embarrassed about. Mental breakdowns meant weakness of some sort, and Rose knew Justyn well enough to know that he didn't want that. But he wasn't a monster.

"If you want your family to accept you, perhaps you should try speaking to them when you're not having a breakdown. Perhaps her timing was unfortunate, but the fact that she approached you at all to talk to you shows that she still cares."

She watched him, wondering what his reaction would be. Rose thought briefly about her own lost siblings, and how she might speak to them if she were in Justyn's situation. The problem was, Rose had always been distant from her siblings, whereas she believed that Justyn and Esmerelda had once been close.

"The problem, I suppose, is that you chose to side with the 'enemies'," Rose spoke calmly, clearly not one to take the whole rivalry too seriously. "That was strike one. The fact that you have changed in your time with us -whether or not we are the causes of that change, or whether it was just the way you were going to turn out- is strike two. You should be careful, Justyn, or strike three and you're out. You should speak with her when you are feeling less angry. Build bridges, don't burn them."

She stopped, feeling slightly as if she were lecturing him. Her expression became slightly apologetic.

"I'm sure you'd like to change the subject now. Shall we discuss your new denmate? That's rather a large step to be taking... Are you two now 'together'?" she asked, ears perking up curiously. She knew that what she had said about Justyn's family would not be ignored, but she also knew when to stop pushing it.

[[Midnight]]

Justyn was unusually keen to listen carefully. He was in a dilemma - just a year ago the idea of seeing his immediate family alive was an unbelievable dream. Now, a year later, he had found family again, but they hated him - and he was trying his best not to hate them back.

Maybe he was too much a true Moons wolf than a natural born Star. He often tried to remember what life was like with the Dancing Stars as a pup, but he only remembered the negative - the pack tension, his father disappearing, his grandmother's death, and his mother's obvious sadness. Was there ever happiness and kindness in Justyn's life as a Stars wolf?

Even so, Justyn was so stubborn that even the thought of circumstance or destiny controlling how he lived his life outraged him. He could be anything he wanted to be. So perhaps the real question was, did he really want to be the first one to apologize in his family fued? Did he want to be the peace maker?

Yes. In his heart, Justyn wanted their acceptance. He wanted to prove that he was still a wolf with great intentions. So that's why he was grateful as Rose gave him all of her wise, intuitive opinions.

Yes, Justyn knew he needed to seek them out and talk while his head was clear. The last time he thought he had a clear head, but he obviously was far too emotional to repair a bridge. He would be embarassed the next time he saw Roan or Esmerelda. He had no clue what they could talk about or how he could win their trust. But he knew that he would regret it if he never tried.

As Rose let go of the subject and gave him her apologetic look, Justyn smiled small and looked back down at the puppies. It occurred to him that he still did not know their names, and wondered, with Raiden apparently missing, if they even had names yet. Would she wait for him to dub them? If Justyn knew Rose at all, though, she'd be used to waiting. She'd have named them by now. Claimed them fully as her own little life-giving miracles.

Justyn felt a spark of fear, wondering where Raiden could be. Wasn't it made clear to him that Rose was the living dead without him? He felt that anger rise in chest when Rose spoke of Fallon.

His demeanor turned to slight embarassment, and he found it strange to be talking about this with none other than Rose. But he was certainly willing.

"No. We're not mates. More...more like partners," he started off with, feeling around his own heart to come up with the right wording. "But she is important to me, so I asked her to den with me. I know it sounds strange, but I suppose all of my relationships are strange."

Justyn then wondered if it would be a good idea to bring up his promise to Fallon about making her a Beta. Rose probably wouldn't be offended at the idea, nor would she betray his plan to Duke, whom Justyn suspected would say no if he found out how much it meant to him. But would she be willing to help him out with it? Either way, now was not the time, not with little Rose Jrs to take care of.

"Before we continue with the subject..." he brought his chin onto his paws and stared at the male pup closest to him. "Tell me their names. And then you can bombard me some more."

[Paint]

Rose watched him curiously, showing her usual amount of calm emotion as she watched the cogs in his head spinning. He was trying to decide what was best for him and his family, and his entire life, she supposed. Now that she had said her bit, Rose would be entirely happy to leave it. Let events unfold. If Justyn wished for some more advice, she would give it willingly, but if he told her she'd overstepped the line she would fall into silence on the subject. As it turned out, he did not give much away, instead following her subject change.

"I don't suppose there is any such thing as a 'normal' relationship," Rose shook her head, but she was smiling slightly. She thought of her own. The idea of Raiden not being around meant that she refused to think of him at the moment, especially in such a state of exhaustion. She thought instead of her father, and of Justyn, and how she developed such close bonds. She thought of Bion, sadly, and how things had turned out with him. No, she most definitely empathised with strange relationships.

"Well, I hope you are good to each other, however you are choosing to define your relationship..." she continued, almost coy with amusement. Justyn seemed entirely unable to settle. He was like a fireball, rocketing this way and that but never burning out. She didn't want him to break down, or lose his fighting spirit, but she wanted to find out what made him so unsettled. It frustrated her that she did not know. But, really, perhaps it was because he didn't even know yet. He was still young- he had years of experience to gather yet. As do I, Rose thought carefully.

She looked down with a smile at the two little ones. Now snoozing contentedly, she herself felt very tired just looking at them. Names were something she had long ago decided, and she did recall discussing them with Raiden at some point. But the absent father would perhaps not get a say in the matter this time. Rose felt that he did not deserve the moment of intimacy of naming their new pups, simply for not showing up.

"Razanur," she suddenly said, following Justyn's eye to the boy pup. "Sounds strong, interesting. A little different." She smiled, eyeing his coat. Although it seemed like a mishmash of colours at the moment, she could spy that he was overall very dark, with her grey and white on his back. And two adorable little white ears. She imagined that he would be quite handsome when he was older, but still, doesn't every mother for their sons?

"The girl... Saki," she spoke the name softly, with love, as if trying it out. She could already see the little pup would take after her in looks. Personality, it was never so clear, until they were old enough. She did not mind though. She wanted them to be individuals. Rose looked up at Justyn with a small smile. "Now don't you dare say you don't like the names," she demanded, with a slight laugh at her 'heiress' tone.

[[Midnight]]

Well, perhaps she was right. What was a normal relationships? Bonds were simply what you made of them. Justyn certainly knew that, currently experimenting with all sorts of relationships. None were quite turning out how he had expected. But enough of that, he thought, he wasn't too worried about his new closeness with Fallon. Whatever happened, happened, and he was all too curious to see. In the meantime, yes, he'd treat her with respect. She was soon to be his ranking equal.

As passionate and warm-hearted as ever, Justyn's heart melted when Rose demanded he have only good opinions on the names of her offspring. As if he could dislike their names! Rose was far too ingenious to come up with anything but spectacular identities. She was right, Razanur was such a strong name. He'd certainly make something of himself and everyone would know and remember his name. Justyn was already imagining Saki to be this mysterious, heart-throbbing she-wolf with a brain far too smart for her own good.

"I could do nothing of the sort," he responded, his wall tearing down moment by moment. "I'm already enthralled with them. I feel like they are a part of my own bloodline. I can already hear them calling me Uncle Justyn."

He rested his chin on his front paws, wiggling inches closer to the pups to observe them as closely - but within a respectful distance - as possible. He knew that he'd planned on seeing the pups. He never imagined himself feeling so happy at the sight of them. It was a knew experience and a new side of himself previously unknown.

His eyes darted back up to Rose.
"If there's anything you ever need, or the pups need, I am just a howl away. Seriously," he explained, his face growing solemn. "Whether it be a meal, or even if my uncle in Dancing Stars is trying to eat them. Anything."
And then there was that infamous smirk of his.

[Paint]

Rose felt the smile upon her face pull up even more tightly, and she even allowed herself a little laugh. Uncle Justyn, she thought, I think that will have to stick..
"I wouldn't have anything else," she smiled, looking down at them. Justyn was a mixed-up wolf, but Rose imagined it took a lot to truly break a bond with him. She watched him with the pups, edging closer but still holding back ever so slightly. The two little ones were stirring ever so slightly.

"Justyn," Rose spoke softly, her dark eyes glittering with amusement and comfort. "You can get as close as you want to them. I know now that you'll protect these two with your life, as I am going to. So feel free to get to know them."

She reached down and nosed Saki gently, inhaling ever so slightly. That was a scent she would most definitely remember. Then she did the same for Razanur. She memorised the way they smelt, even though she didn't plan on being away from them for rather a while.

Rose's thoughts wandered for a minute, and she thought about Justyn's offer. Truth be told, if Raiden truly wasn't going to be around -and the thought made her heart crumple painfully- she would really be needing Justyn. A strong female is good for raising pups but there would be certain things that only Duke or Justyn could teach them. And perhaps Justyn would have the more time out of the two of them. She glanced up at him, watching for a moment before taking a calming breath.

"There is one thing you could do for me," she asked quietly, holding onto her composure with teeth and claws. No part of her expression faltered apart from her soft, serious voice. "I know that you and he do not get on, but if you could please try and find Raiden for me... I need to know what has happened to him. Where he is. Because if he was in this valley, he would not be missing out on this right now," she felt her voice becoming more harsh as she went on, until her final sentence was ejected between clenched teeth. It took her a moment to untense her body.

[smilies]

The wind and the sound of his pants rang loudly in his ears, his paws carried him swiftly, and gracefully across the forest. His body moved at a pace that was almost unnatural for such a large wolf. His mouth was agape, allowing his tongue to catch the air, relieving him of some of the heat that filled his body. He knew he was close - he could smell her. But every step almost made it seem like he was only further and further away. He pushed himself forward, the thudding of his paws even louder now. Her scent was becoming stronger and stronger, filling the caverns of his nose, sending only more waves of guilty throughout his heart. And just when he felt like he could run no longer the den came into sight, the familiar shape of Duke dutifully guarding the entrance.

He slowed to a trot, panting, eyes taking in the scene, allowing his brain time to evaluate the situation. He sniffed the air instinctively, fearing the worst, but secretly hoping for the best. As expected, Duke's scent lingered in the air, accompanied by that of his daughter. And there was another scent, one he should have assumed would be there, but had neglected giving any thought. Justyn. A low growl rumbled in his throat, attempting to break free from it's confines. He didn't have long to ponder the male's presence, because the pungent odor of birth suddenly overcame him. His heart sank, and he quickened his pace to a lope, the den only a yard or so away now. His gaze wandered to Duke's, already knowing what his expression would read. Anger, disappointment, resentment. He had screwed up, and Duke would probably be the first to point it out. But frankly, Raiden didn't have time for a lecture. Not now. So when he reached the entrance, he shot Duke an apologetic look before swiftly passing by, entering the den without a word.

"Rose," he panted, resisting the urge to rush to her side. His gaze caught sight of a squirming figure, and he paused without realizing it. A sense of pride swept over him as he took in the small, but beautiful litter. Again, he felt himself resisting the urges that overcame him. "I'm so sorry," he said, gaze reluctantly finding her once more. His voice sincere, apologetic, almost desperate. But he kept that latter tone at bay, not wanting to reveal such emotions to the male who'd stepped in where Raiden should have been.

He suddenly looked towards the male, expression changing in a brief instant. It was steely and cold. He sucked in a breath and stood up straighter, eyes never leaving Justyn. "Would you mind giving Rose and I a moment?" he questioned, his tone lacking any politeness that such words would suggest. To be frank, he had never liked the male. And his hatred only seemed to grow as he realized the predicament the three of them were currently in. Justyn had seen his own pups before him. Justyn had been there to aid Rose during the birth. The growl was still evident in his throat, low enough to be considered an expression of irritation, but loud enough to certainly take seriously.

"I went to No Man's Land in search of suitable prey, thinking I could get back in time." His voice was filled with regret. He'd missed the birth of his pups, and he realized with a sickening feeling that he could never get that back. "I'm so sorry," he said again, moving past Justyn to get closer to his mate. He realized his explanation sounded like a terrible excuse for an unforgivable action. But it was the honest truth. He had hoped to capture a small doe for her, knowing that she would be bed-ridden for at least a week. He'd hoped, in the end, that it'd leave more time for the three of them to be together. He didn't want to leave her side during that first week of his pups' lives. But his attempts to catch anything that would last longer than a day had failed miserably. It was a gamble that he'd ultimately lost.

There was so much he wanted to say to her, but he needed to let her speak. And to let Justyn leave, before he could continue. Frankly, he was scared to see her reaction. Whatever she said, he probably deserved.

[Paint]

OOC. I hope you don't mind me posting before you, Middy! Just thought Rose should diffuse the situation between the two males she loves (:

BIC.
It seemed as if the words had barely left her black lips when she saw Raiden step into sight. Firstly, all she felt was intense relief. She'd lost him before, she knew what it was to hurt. So actually her first reaction was as if she could breathe again. It wasn't a case of feeling safe, she had Duke and Justyn there of course as well. It was actually more for the pups. She wanted to be the close-knit family that she'd never really experienced. Her own puphood was scattered, and filled with drama. Then her first litter encountered the earthquake. This was their chance to really, truly settle, and be happy.

So Rose was slightly speechless for a moment, although her brain whirred as she watched the body language between Raiden and Justyn. She couldn't quite decide whether to punish Raiden, whether he really deserved it. Part of her was quite glad that she was left in peace to have the pups, as she was vain enough that she did not wish Raiden to see her actually giving birth. But he had taken so long to get here, enough to make her doubt herself. Could she really tolerate his being rude to Justyn, who was proving himself as a loyal friend?

"Don't you two start," was all she said at first, not raising her voice but firmly establishing that there would be no hostility in her den. She looked up at Raiden, sensing his desperation, his sorrow for what he had missed. It was an accident, that was all, but he had no right to take out his jealousy on Justyn. "It's okay, Raiden. I'm glad that you're here. But I don't see any reason why Justyn should leave. Not until he's ready, at least."

She stared Raiden dead in the eye, trying to communicate to him. Justyn would be a part of these pups lives. She did not wanted Raiden to boss Justyn about, but she hoped that Justyn would respect his wishes and perhaps leave soon. Rose did of course want some private time with her mate, but she wanted to build bridges between the two males more. She glanced at Justyn, wondering how he would react.